References

12. ESA Annual Report 1993, ESA, 1994.
13. ESA Annual Report 1994, ESA, 1995.
14. "Alenia Nets Artemis Work in Milestone ESA Contract", Space News, 11 -17 October 1993, p. 13.
15. "Lasers in Space", Spaceflight, January 1994, p. 35.
16. "Optical Inter-Orbit Communications", Spaceflight, April 1995, pp.116-117.
17. "Laser Ground Station", Spaceflight, June 1994, p. 183.
18. P.B. de Selding, "Artemis Schedule Slip May Be Costly", Space News, 3-9 January 1994, pp. 1, 20.
19. P.B. de Selding, Massive Overrun Looms for Artemis", Space News, 12-18 June 1995, pp. 3, 37.
20. "BAe on ARTEMIS", Space, December 1992 - February 1993, p. 5.
21. P.B. de Selding, "Britain May Abandon Artemis", Space News, 19-25 June 1995, p. 8.
22. B.I. Edelson, et al, NASA/NSF Panel Report on Satellite Communications Systems and Technology, Vol. l, Analytical Chapters, July 1993, pp. 218-241.
23. B.I. Edelson, op. cit., pp. 241-250.
24. R. Riccitiello, "ESA Works to Improve Telecommunications", Space News, 27 April-3 May 1992, p. 6, 8.
25. "Future ESA Space Plan Agreed", Spaceflight, December 1992, p. 376.
26. R. Riccitiello, "MESA Goes Ahead With Data Relay Satellite Plans", Space News, 12-18 October 1992, p.1, 28.
27. C. Covault, "Europe Sets $26-Billion Space Program for 1990's", Aviation Week and Space Technology, 16 November 1992, p. 23-25.
28. "Newsmaker Forum", Space News, 22-28 February 1993, p. 22.
29. "Europe Seeks Military Funds for DRS System", Space News, 27 March - 2 April 1995, p. 2.
Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

DRTM

ESA's Data Relay and Technology Mission (DRTM) has been divided into two principal efforts: the Advanced Relay Technology Mission (ARTEMIS) and the aforementioned DRS. ARTEMIS, whose launch has been delayed until late 1997 at the earliest, will serve as a pathfinder for DRS with three principal payloads:

(1) Semiconductor Intersatellite Link Experiment (SILEX) optical terminal to demonstrate space-to-space links with the French SPOT 4 spacecraft;

(2) L-band transponder to provide land mobile communications within Europe; and

(3) S-band (2 GHz) and Ka-band (23-28 GHz) data relay equipment for pre-DRS experiments.

The spacecraft will also test two independent ion thruster systems for orbital maintenance over a potential 10-year life-span.

In 1993 Alenia Spazio was awarded the prime contract for ARTEMIS which will be based on the ITALSAT design with a mass of 2.6 metric tons, including 1.2 metric tons of propellant. The 3-axis-stabilized spacecraft will feature two elongated solar arrays with an end-of life capacity of at least 2.8 kW. The payload, with a mass of up to 550 kg, will employ two 2.85-m-diameter and one 1.0-m diameter antennas for the L-, S-, and Ka-band transponders. A 1-m-diameter telescope will be installed at the Teide Observatory, Tenerife, the Canary Islands to support SILEX experiments. Originally scheduled to fly on the second Ariane 5 mission in 1996, ARTEMIS has encountered serious technical and cost problems, leading at least one ESA member to consider abandoning the project (References 12-22).

Alenia Spazio is also the proposed prime contractor for DRS which has suffered a lack of ESA Council support since its reaffirmation at the November, 1991, ministerial meeting in Granada. Through 1994 the detailed definition phase (Phase B2) for DRS was underway, but a move into the main development phase (Phase C/D) was delayed pending programmatic decisions. If fully approved in 1995, the first of two spacecraft might be launched as early as 1999 with payloads similar to ARTEMIS' SILEX and S-/Ka-band equipment. A full DRS constellation will consist of spacecraft stationed at 59 degrees E and 44 degrees W. ARTEMIS will join the DRS to support SPOT, ENVISAT, the International Space Station and other selected spacecraft, including military spacecraft (References 12-13, 23-29).

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